Rafa Benitez: ‘We must leave Chelsea legends behind’

RAFA BENITEZ has told Chelsea’s old guard they have to accept times are changing, because the young guns are coming through and they cannot be stopped.

Benitez says Chelsea must move on from the era of John Terry and Frank Lampard

The Spaniard had the same message for Blues fans as he prepared for the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg against Swansea tonight.

Owner Roman Abramovich is ruthless in his desire to cull the over-thirties on his playing staff. Chelsea legends like Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole are set to be discarded at the end of this season, while skipper John Terry is increasingly prone to injury and entering the last 18 months of his deal.

Of the old guard only Petr Cech, with three years remaining on his contract, is guaranteed a future at the club.

It’s easy to talk about the legends at a club, and you have to respect them. What they have achieved for this club has been fantastic

Rafa Benitez

Chelsea allowed Didier Drogba, hero of their Champions League triumph last May, to leave and the year before Michael Ballack, Deco and Ricardo Carvalho were shown the door.

Benitez seemed to be directing his message as much to the fans struggling to accept the dismantling of the most successful side in the club’s history, as to the players involved.

Chelsea’s supporters have still to warm to Benitez – many probably never will – but he knows the club will not stand still.

Abramovich has come under fire for his policy, but he can point to the fact that despite his ruthless culling of both players and managers, Chelsea have still won trophies – the Champions League and FA Cup last summer, the Double in 2010.

“It’s easy to talk about the legends at a club, and you have to respect them. What they have achieved for this club has been fantastic,” said Benitez.

“But you have to have new players coming in, and you have to carry on winning. That’s what the fans expect.

“Everyone knows the legends and what they have achieved, but it is part of life. That is one of the good things about English football; you respect people who achieve things for a club. But you also have to think about the future. You cannot wait. You have to move forward.

“This year Chelsea have had Eden Hazard, Oscar and Marko Marin. Maybe in the future we will be talking about these players having an impact.

“I cannot talk about the past, but I can see the club is trying to change things, to try to be successful again. You can’t just think, ‘That’s it, we’ve won’. You have to keep evolving.”

Benitez, who insists this must be regarded as a transitional period at the club with him having been in charge for only seven weeks, added: “Everyone has to adapt. When I was a coach at Real Madrid’s academy, I wanted to work with the first team, only there were legends there. But you need the new generation pushing you.

“Chelsea have managed this situation because they have been successful while it has been happening. But that is the problem. People see the players who have won things, but you have to see the new players coming through. It is not easy.” Chelsea, who bounced back in style in the FA Cup third round at Southampton on Saturday, winning 5-1 after the shock of losing to QPR last week, go into the first leg on a high and favourites to reach the final at Wembley on February 24.

Despite new £7million man Demba Ba’s two goals on his debut on Saturday, Fernando Torres is likely to start up front. Ross Turnbull will also continue in goal with Cech still ruled out. Benitez was on the losing side in his first English cup final at Liverpool, the League Cup final in 2005 which gave Jose Mourinho his first trophy as Chelsea manager.

“We want to win every game. We want to be in this final,” he said. “I remember that final in 2005. But my team now is Chelsea, and I want to win with them.”

Terry has resumed training after his knee injury and will figure in the Under-21 game against Fulham tomorrow.